Flash card apparatus



Dec. 24, 1968 R. G. CHUY ETAL 3,

' FLASH CARD APPARATUS Filed March 30, 1967 4 sheets sheet l raw A T 7 817675 d i a 1610? I INVENTORS 1953 R. G. CHUY ETAL 3, 7

FLASH CARD APPARATUS Filed March 30. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 iVg/ENTORS Dec. 24, 1968 R. G. CHUY ETAL 3,417,490

FLASH CARD APPARATUS Filed March so, 1967 4 SheetsSheet '4 IIgVEN 0R3 BY 2 v A T703015 s United States Patent 3,417,490 FLASH CARD APPARATUS Ruth G. Chuy and Daniel T. Chuy, both of 15447 Sorrento, Detroit, Mich. 48227 Filed Mar. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 627,267 Claims. (Cl. 9)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flash card device having a set of flash cards pivotally mounted on a platform. The flash cards have problems, questions, words, and the like on the front faces thereof, and solutions, answers, and pictures corresponding to said words on the rear faces thereof. The flash cards are mounted at one end of a platform in a position spaced apart from an inclined mirror. The mirror may be fixed or pivotally mounted. The flash cards are movable from an inoperative position on the platform, or from a position at the side of the platform, to an inclined position on the platform in front of the inclined mirror so that when the flash cards are in an operative position the flash cards and mirror are disposed at diverging angles relative to each other.

Summary of the invention animals, names of persons, and so forth, and more particularly to a flash card device which employs an inclined mirror and a set of inclined flash cards, and wherein the mirror and the flash cards are disposed at diverging angles relative to each other when the cards are in the operative position.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a flash card device which mounts the flash cards in an inclined position in front of an inclined mirror so that a viewer may see the flash cards in an easier manner than heretofore possible with the prior art flash card devices. The mirror may be inclined in a fixed position or it may be mounted on a pivotal means whereby it may be tilted backwardly to an inoperative position so that the flash cards are not observable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flash card device which employs a means for mounting the flash cards on a stand in a position in front of an inclined mirror for viewing the rear faces of the cards when they are moved to a vertically inclined position so that a problem or other material appearing on the front faces of the flash cards and the answers on the rear faces thereof are quickly and easily observable as compared to the vertical mounting employed in the prior art flash card game devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved means for mounting a set of flash cards on a stand in front of an inclined mirror by providing slotted openings in the cards for mounting the same over guide rods and about which the flash cards are flipped to an inclined upright position in front of the inclined mirror.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a flash card device which employs a stand and means on said stand for supporting a set of flash cards before an inclined mirror, and wherein the flash cards may be provided on the front faces thereof with the names of a flower, animal, person, question, problem, or the like, and the rear face of the preceding card is provided with a corresponding picture, solution, answer, or the like, and which is reflected simultaneously as one is reading the word or Words on the front face of the succeeding or last card. For example, the word dog may appear on one flash card while the picture of a dog is being reflected from a preceding card which is disposed in an inclined position in front of an inclined mirror. Alternately, the front face of said flash card may be blank and the picture and the corresponding words may be reflected from the rear face of each card, so that the rear face of the flash card may be read in the mirror and provide the effect of a silent movie on a TV screen.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a compact and simplified means for pivoting the viewing mirror of the flash card device within its housing from a first inoperative position to a second or operative viewing position.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a flash card device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the flash card device structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows:

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the flash card device structure illustrated in FIG. 2, with parts broken away, taken along the line 3-3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a flash card employed in the flash card device structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a flash card device of the type shown in FIG. 1, but showing a modification of the flash card supporting means;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, left side elevational view of the flash card supporting means shown in FIG. 5, taken along the line 66 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the flash card holding structure shown in FIG. 5, taken along the line 7-7 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a broken, plan View of a flash card employed with the flash card supporting structure illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a modified flash' card device, showing the flash cards mounted to the side of a mirror contained in a housing in an inclined position;

FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 9, taken along the line 1010 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, elevational sectional view of the flash card device structure illustrated in FIG. 10, taken along the line 1111 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, elevational sectional view of the flash card device structure illustrated in FIG. 11, taken along the line 12-12 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a modified mirror housing for the flash card device of the present invention and showing a stationary mirror mounted therein; and,

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the rear face of a flash card having all of the educational aid subject matter on the rear face thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4, the numeral 10 generally designates an elongated platform on which is carried a mirror housing, generally indicated by the numeral 11, at the rear end thereof. The mirror housing 11 contains a pivotally mounted mirror 12. A flash card mounting means, generally indicated by the numeral 13, is formed on the front end of the platform 10. The flash card mounting means 13 is adapted to operatively support a set of flash cards, generally indicated by the numeral 14, with each of the individual cards being designated by the numeral 16.

The elongated platform may be made from any suitable material, as for example, a plastic material, and it is formed in the shape of an elongated plate with a forwardly and downwardly sloping flash card seat or rest position on the front end thereof, indicated by the numeral 15. The set of flash cards 14 is seated on the sloping card rest position 15 with the lower ends of the cards movably mounted on a pair of vertical, laterally spaced apart retaining rods 17 and 18 which are secured to the platform 10 by any suitable means, as by being pressed into suitable holes formed in the platform 10. Ase best seen in FIG. 3, the flash card retaining rods 17 and 18 are extended through the elongated slots 19 and 20, respectively, which are formed through each of the flash cards 16 at the lower ends thereof and adjacent the lower corners thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the flash card retaining rod 17 is integrally formed with the inner end of a second rod 21 which slopes forwardly and downwardly at an acute angle relative to the horizontal bottom surface of the platform 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the forward end of the downwardly inclined rod 21 is integral with the lower end of a vertically disposed rod 23 which is inclined forwardly from a vertical plane. It will be seen that the two rods 21 and 23 form an L-shaped card support member for supporting the set of. flash cards 14 in a forwardly inclined position indicated by the broken line set of cards 14a. As shown in FIGS 3, the flash card I retaining rod 18 is also provided with a forwardly inclined L-shaped flash card support member formed by the rods 22 and 24.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the flash cards 16 will be disposed at at acute angle relative to the mirror 12 when the flash cards are in the vertically inclined viewing position 140. It will also be seen from an inspection of FIG. 3 that the flash cards 16 illustrated therein are each provided with a figure, such as a dog, on the rear side thereof which is reflected into the mirror 12 and with the name of the figure on the front side of the card, as in this case the word DOG spelled in capital printed letters, in small printed letters, and in written small letters. It will be obvious that other information may be printed on the front sides of the cards so that the viewer can see this information, and that corresponding information may be printed on the back of the cards. For example, problems may be mounted on the front sides of the cards 16 and the answers on the rear sides of the cards 16. It will be seen that because the flash cards are disposed on an inclined plane relative to the mirror 12, the material on the front side of the cards can be viewed easily while it is also possible to look over the heads of the raised cards shown in phantom in 14a to see in the mirror 12 the information written on the back of the cards. This feature is not obvious from FIG. 1 because of the particular disposition of this view, but it is obvious from an inspection of FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mirror housing 11 is formed as a simulated television set which comprises a rear wall and a pair of integral side walls 26 and 27 (FIG. 3). The mirror housing 11 further includes an integral horizontal top end wall 28 and an integral inclined front side wall 29 which slopes downwardly and forwardly. The front wall 29 is integral with the side walls 26 and 27. The lower end of the front wall 29 is integral with an inwardly and downwardly sloping intermediate wall portion 30 which terminates at the vertical lower end wall 31. The wall 31 is integral with the base 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 11 is provided with an opening 32 on the lower end thereof for the insertion and mounting of the mirror 12. The front wall 29 is provided with the opening 33 which is shaped like a television tube and through which is viewed the mirror 12. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the mirror housing 11 is provided with simulated television operating knobs 34 and 35.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mirror 12 is mounted on a suitable frame 36 for pivoting the mirror 12 between an inclined operative position against the inner face of the front wall 29 and a retracted inoperative inclined position 37. When the mirror 12 is in the inoperative position 37 it is prevented from rotating rearwardly any further by the rear wall 25 which acts as a stop or limiting means for the mirror. As shown in FIG. 1, the mirror frame 36 is provided with the journals 38 and 39 which are disposed at the lower front corners of the mirror frame and which extend horizontally outward into rotatable engagement with the bores 40 and 41, respectively, formed in the housing side walls 26 and 27, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mirror 12 is rotated between the operative and inoperative positions by a suitable means which comprises a simulated television antenna rod 42. As best seen in FIG. 3, the mirror operating rod 42 extends upwardly through the slot 43 in the housing top end wall 25. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the operating rod 42 is bent sidewardly inward, as indicated by the numeral 44. The inwardly bent lower end of the rod 42 is rotatably mounted in the hole 45 formed in the side of the miror frame 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the operating rod 42 is provided with a bend 46 at the lower end thereof, so as to have the lower end of the rod extended downwardly and forwardly.

It will be seen that when the rod 42 is moved rearwardly in the slot 43 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 2, that it will engage the rear end of the slot 43, and continued rearward movement will pivot the rod 42 about the rear end of the slot 43 and the lower end of the rod 42 will cam the mirror 12 to the operative position against the inside of the housing front wall 29. When the rod 42 is moved forwardly to the broken line position 42a of FIG. 2, it will engage the front end of the slot 43, and continued movement will cam the mirror 12 backwardly to the retracted or inoperative position against the housing rear wall 25. It will be seen that the inclined operative position of the mirror 12 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the position 14a of the flash cards when they are disposed in the vertically inclined position on the flash card holding support means.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a modified flash card mounting means. The parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 8, which are the same as the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, have been marked with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter b. The only difference in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 8 is that the rod type support means has been replaced by a rail type support means. This is, the rods 17b, 18b, and 2112 through 24b, respectively. The last mentioned rails perform the same function as the previously mentioned rods, and they are disposed at an abtuse angle relative to the mirror 12b. In order to slide along the rail portions 16b and 17b and 21b and 2212, the slots 19b and 20b in the flash card 1612 have been opened at the bottom end of the cards, as shown in FIG. 8. The numerical in FIG. 6 illustrates the vertically inclined position of the flash cards during a viewing operation. The cards 1612 would be made and used in the same manner as the flash cards 16 employed for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4.

FIGS. 9, l0, l1 and 12 illustrate a further modified flash card device made in accordance with the principles of the invention and in which the flash card mounting means is slightly modified and the means for rotating the viewing mirror is slightly modified.

The parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 12 which are the same as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 have been marked with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter (I.

As shown in FIG. 10, the upper end of the mirror housing 11:! is provided with an opening 47 for insertion of the mirror 12d into the mirror housing. The mirror 12d is adapted to be moved forwardly and backwardly between the operative inclined position against the inner face of the front wall 29d in the same manner as in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. However, the mirror frame 36d is not pivoted on any journal means on the side walls of the mirror housing 11d. Instead, the lower end of the mirror frame 36d is rounded as indicated by the numeral 48 in FIG. 10, and this rounded lower end of the mirror frame is adapted to be rotatably seated in the rounded groove 49 which is formed in the bottom wall 50 of the mirror housing 11d, adjacent the inner lower end of the front wall 29d. Accordingly, the mirror 12d will be rotated between the inclined operative position against the inner face of the front wall 29d and the dotted line inoperative position 37d (FIG. when the antenna operating rod 42a is moved between the solid line position of FIG. 10 and the broken line position 42c of FIG. 10.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the mirror housing 11d includes a stop member 51 having a front angular face on which the mirror frame 36a is supported in a rearwardly sloping inoperative position 37d. The mirror 12d is held against the inner side of the front wall 290', so that it can be viewed through the substantially rectangular opening 33d, by the spring 52 which is secured to the top wall 28d by any suitable means, as by being riveted in place.

The mirror 12d may also be rotated between the operative and inoperative positions by the knob 53 which is connected to the mirror frame 36a by the fixed shaft 54. The shaft 54 is slidably mounted in the elongated slot 54d formed through the right side wall 27d of the mirror housing lid.

The modified flash card mounting means of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 includes an outwardly extended platform extension 55 which has a laterally extended surface 56 that is elevated above the upper surface of the paltform 10d. The front edge of the card supporting surface 56 is bounded by the vertical flange 57 which has a forwardly and outwardly inclined inner face. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a raised or upwardly extended card support member 58 is formed on the platform extension 55 on the left side of the platform 100 so as not to obstruct the frontal view of the mirror 12d. The front face of the support member 58 has a forwardly and downwardly sloping surface 59 which is adapted to support a set of flash cards 14d in a position awaiting their turn to be flipped or moved in front of the viewing mirror 12d. Each of the cards 16:! of the set of flash cards 14d is provided on their right side with a vertically extended slot 60 for mounting the flash cards on a horizontal, forwardly extended rod 61 which is disposed on a plane that passes through the left side of the mirror housing 11d. The rear end of the rod 61 is secured in a hole 62 in the upper end of the card support member 58. Integrally formed on the front end of the horizontal rod 61 is a vertically disposed, and forwardly and outwardly inclined rod 63.

As shown in FIG. 9, the set of flash cards 14d is formed slightly different from the flash cards used with the first embodiment. The flash cards 16d are provided with educational aid subject matter on the front and rear faces thereof in the following described manner. The front face of the first flash card in the pack 14a. is blank. However, on the rear face of the first flash card would be the answer or corresponding information to the educational aid subject matter set forth on the front face of the second flash card. As shown in 'FIG. 9, the second flash card is provided on the front face thereof with a mathematical addition problem for showing the addition 1 plus 1. The answer to the mathematical problem set forth on the front face of the No. 2 card 16d is shown on the back face of the preceding No. 1 card 16d which has been rotated clockwise into a position in front of the mirror 12d so as to show the answer 2 in the mirror 12a. It will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 10, that the flash cards 16d are disposed at an upwardly and inwardly sloping angle at the left side of the flash card device for viewing the first question or problem, and at an upwardly and forwardly inclined angle when the flash cards have been rotated to a viewing position in front of the mirror 12d so as to expose the answer to the question or problem or the like.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modified mirror housing 11] in which the mirror is mounted in a fixed, inclined, operative position. The parts of the mirror housing 11 which are the same as the mirror housing 11 of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 have been marked with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter f. The mirror 12 would be cemented in place on the inside of the front wall 29f so that it may be viewed through the rectangular opening 33 It will be understood, however, that the inclined mirror 12] of the embodiment of FIG. 13 would provide the same advantageous function as the rotatable inclined mirrors of the other described embodiments. The first described embodiments with the pivotal mirror, which is movable by the TV antenna, may be of greater interest to children in stimulating them to use the flash card device.

FIG. 14 illustrates a modified flash card 16g wherein all of the educational aid subject matter is shown on the rear face of the card 16g so that the information, including questions and answers and so forth, may all be seen in the viewing mirror 12 in the same manner as watching a silent movie. The card 16g shown in FIG. 4 is usable with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4, and 5 through 8, but it will be understood that the same procedure could be followed for the cards used in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 which are flipped sidewise.

In the following claims, the information shown on the front and rear faces of the cards has been described as educational aid subject matter, and this term is used to cover or include questions, answers, problems, pictures, names for the pictures and so forth.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change Without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising:

(a) a platform;

(b) a housing on the rear end of said platform;

(c) a mirror mounted in said housing in an operative inclined position so that the mirror slopes upwardly and rearwardly relative to the front end of the platform;

(d) a set of flash cards carrying educational aid subject matter;

(e) a flash card mounting means on the front end of the platform including means for detaining said set of the platform including means for retaining said set ror, and means for holding a flash card moved from said unobservable position in an inclined observable position spaced forwardly from said mirror, so that when the flash card is in said inclined observable position the rear face of said flash card is viewable in said mirror; and,

(f) said last mentioned means for holding a flash card in an inclined observable position is adapted to hold the card at a forwardly and upwardly inclined angle so that the rear face of a flashcard viewable in said mirror is disposed at an acute angle relative to said mirror.

2. A device of the class described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said mirror is fixed in said housing in said inclined position.

3. A device of the class described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said mirror is pivotally mounted in said housing and is movable between said inclined operative position and a retracted inoperative position.

4. A device of the class described in claim 3, including:

(a) means for moving said pivotally mounted mirror between said operative and inoperative positions. 5. A device of the class described in claim 4, wherein: (a) said means for moving said pivotally mounted mirror between said operative and inoperative positions includes:

(1) means on the side of said mirror for journaling said mirror on said housing for rotatable movement between said positions,

(2) a control rod having one end connected to said mirror and the other end extended outwardly of said housing for manual movement of the rod to mirror between said positions.

6. A device of the class described in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said housing is shaped as a simulated television set; and,

(b) said control rod is a simulated television antenna rod.

7. A device of the class described in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said means for moving said pivotally mounted mirror between said operative and inoperative positions includes,

(1) a mirror supporting frame having a rounded lower end, and said housing is provided with a rounded groove in which is seated the rounded lower end of said mirror frame; and

(2.) a control rod having one end connected to said mirror frame and the other end extended outwardly of said housing for manual movement of the rod to move the mirror between said positions.

8. A device of the class described in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said means for moving said mirror between said position further includes a manual control knob connected to said mirror frame.

9. A device of the class described in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said housing is provided with means for releasably holding said mirror in said inclined operative position.

10. A device of the class described in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said releasable mirror holding means comprises a spring means.

11. A device of the class described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said educational aid subject matter is shown on only the rear faces of the flash cards.

12. A device of the class described in claim 1, where- (a) said means for retaining said flash cards in a position unobservable in said mirror includes means for pivotally mounting the set of flash cards on one side of said platform so that the flash cards may be rotated into position in front of said mirror to said inclined observable position.

15. A device of the class described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said means for retaining said flash cards in a position unobservable in said mirror includes means for pivotally mounting the set of flash cards on the platform in front of the mirror so that the flash cards may be rotated into position in front of said mirror to said inclined observable position,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,736,552 l1/1929 Shulman et al. 35-9 3,339,296 9/1967 Chuy 35-31 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. H. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,417,490 December 24 1968 Ruth G. Chuy et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 14, "Ase" should read As line 35, "at", second occurrence, should read an Column 4, line 53, "abtuse" should read obtuse line 57, "numeria1 should read numeral Column 6, line 54, cancel "of the platform including means for detaining said set"; line 55, after "set insert of flash cards in a position unobservable in said mir- Column 7, line 7, "side" should read sides line 13, after "to" insert move the line 34, "position" should read positions Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

